Counting device



COUNTING DEVICE Filed March 6, 1942 41 +h a? 19 55 24 23 55 654 9 3401 g MW A. Dwlada m-Dunm' Patented Sept. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COUNTING DEVICE Miriam A. lDu Lude, St. Paul, Minn.

Application March 6, 1942, Serial No. 433,556

1 Claim.

My invention relates to an improvement in a counting device, and deals more particularly with a device capableof counting written or printed words and the like.

It is often desirable or necessary to count a long series of printed or written words. For example in sending telegrams or cables, it is essential that the words in the cable or telegram be accurately counted and the number of words noted thereupon. This is usually done by counting each word, number, or symbol while moving a pencil along the printed or written message.

For ease in counting, the point of the pencil is usually placed adjacent each word, number, or symbol, as the same is counted.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a pencil device with a counting mechanism so that as the point of the pencil is placed adjacent each portion of the message to be counted, the counter automatically counts the same. Thus, as the words of the message are counted a small mark remains on the paper adjacent the word counted, thus indicating the point where the counting ceased in case the counting is interrupted.

Telegraph messages and cables often include symbols and marks, each of which must be counted. Concentration is required so that the count may be accurate. With the usual method of counting, an interruption in the counting operation often results in a complete loss of count, making it necessary for the operation to be repeated. Unless the person using the counter concentrates upon his task and is not interrupted, the count is likely to require considerable time and to be inaccurate. At best, the count is dependent upon human memory, and is thus liable to human inaccuracies.

The present invention resides in the provision of an instrument of the general size, shape, and proportions of a pencil, which may be readily held in the hand during the counting operation. This instrument is preferably pointed like a pencil, so that the point of the instrument may be placed adjacent each word of the message. By exerting a slight downward pressure on the point of the instrument, a counting device is operated, and the number of these operations may be counted.

A feature of the present invention resides in the combination of a pencil and counting device. Th pencil, in its preferred form, is of the automatic type using lead which may be projected or retracted as it is desired. By exerting a downward pressure upon the lead, a small mark will be made on the sheet bearing the message; and simultaneously the counter will be actuated to register the nrunber of timessuch a downward pressure is exerted. Thus the words or symbols are accurately counted; and at all times an indication remains as to what words or symbols have been counted.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a counting device which may be reset to a zero position at any time at the end of a message. Accordingly, as soon as the message has been counted, the number of words or symbols appearing therein may be marked with the same pencil upon any record sheet, and the counting mechanism may then be reset to a zero position.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that while a downward pressure on the end of the same will actuate the counting mechanism, the pencil may be used for writing purposes without operating the counter. In the first place, in writing the pressure exerted is at a considerable angle to the axis of the pencil. As a result, considerable writing pressure is necessary to actuate the counting device in-this position of the pencil. In the second place, a portion of the tip may be movable under downward pressure to actuate the counting mechanism. Accordingly, this tip portion may be held during the writing operation so that the counting device will not be operated.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claim.

In the drawing forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a side view of the counting device.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the pencil, showing the construction thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevation View of a part of the counter mechanism.

Figure 4 is an elevation view of a part of the pencil mechanism.

Figure 5 is an elevation view of the counting device.

Figure 6 is an end view of the counting device removed from the pencil and casing.

Figure '7 is a sectional view through the counting device, the position of the section being indicated by the line ll of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a sectional view through the counting device, the position of the section being indicated by the line 88 of Figure 2.

F g e 9 is a sectional view through the count spaced relation.

ing device, the position of the section being indicated by the line 9-9 of Figure 2.

The counting device A, best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, includes an elongated tubular barrel III, which tapers toward a point at one end A casing I2 is mounted at the other end of the barrel to include a counter mechanism. The casing I 2 is designed to conceal the counter mechanism and the numbers of the mechanism are visible through openings I3 in the casing I2.

Within the barrel I0, I provide an elongated tubular element I4, best illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. This tubular element I4 has a reduced diameter end portion I5 at one end thereof to provide a shoulder I6 between the'reduced diameter end portion I5 and the remainder of the body. An enlarged diameter bearing portion I! is provided at the other end of the tubular element I4. A projecting ear I9 projects beyond the end I! and includes an offset end 20, best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing. This offset end 2|) supports a ratchet dog or pawl 2|, pivoted thereon, as at 2|, and which is spring-urged into the position illustrated in Figure 3 by the spring 22. The purpose of this pawl or ratchet dog will be later described in detail.

A slot 23 is provided in the tubular element I4 to accommodate a locking pin 24. This pin extends through the barrel I and the slot 23 to limit the movement of the tubular element with respect to the barrel I9. A spring 25 is interposed between the inner end of the pin 24 and the shoulder I so as to urge the tubular element I4 outwardly of, or toward, the tapered end H of the pencil barrel.

Mounted within the reduced diameter portion of the tubular element I5, I provide the pencil mechanism 26, best illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing. This pencil mechanism may be of any desired or preferred type, and is shown as includ ng a threaded tube 27 provided with a friction washer 29, which frictionally engages the inner surface of the reduced diameter end portion l5 of the tube. A split tube 30 is rotatably positioned within the threaded tube 21. this split tube being shown with a longitudinal groove 3! extending the length thereof. A tapered tip 32 is secured to one end of the split tube 38 and the other end of the tube is provided with ears 33 which are spread apart to hold the tube 3!! encircled by the threaded tube 21. A lead propelling element 34 having a tooth 35 which extends through the slot 3| and engages the threaded tube 27 is shown in Figure l of the drawing. This lead propelling element sup orts a sleeve 35 which supports the lead 31. While this construction is not shown in extreme detail. the construction will be obvious to those skilled in the art as a common form of pencil construction.

The counting mechanism used in conjunction with. the pencil is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 through 9 of the drawing. The casing I2 is provided with the closed end 39 and a supporting partition wall 40 extending in parallel A shaft 4| extends through the walls 39 and 40 and is supported thereby. A series of counter wheels 42, 43, and 44 are rotatable on the shaft 4|. which is offset from the axis of the barrel III. The last of these counter wheels 44 is provided with an integral sleeve 45 which extends through the partition wall 49 to support the ratchet wheel 46. The

counter wheel 44 rotates with the ratchet wheel and is operated thereby.

A shaft 4'! extends through and is supported by the walls 39 and 48 and this shaft 41 supports a pair of pinions 49 and 50. The counter wheel 44, as best illustrated in Figures 5 and 8 of the drawing, is provided with an integral gear segment 5| which engages the pinion 55 in one rotative position thereof. Rotation of the pinion 53 by the gear segment 5| will act to rotate the pinion 50 a small amount. Rotation of the pinion 50 will cause rotation of the gear 52 which is integral with the counter wheel 43. The teeth on the gear segment 5| are so arranged that for each revolution of the counter wheel 44, the gear and consequently the counter wheel 43 will be rotated one-tenth of one revolution.

A similar arrangement is provided between the counter wheels 42 and 43. An integral gear segment 53 is provided on the counter wheel 43 which is engageable with the pinion 49 in one rotative position of the gear segment. The pinion 49 is in mesh with the gear 54 forming a part of the counter wheel 42. Thus as the gear segment 53 rotates one revolution, this gear segment will act through the pinion 49 to rotate the counter wheel 42 one-tenth of one revolution. As a result, the counter mechanism will count up to 999 and in the next operation thereof will register zeros.

In order to hold the various counter wheels in set position I provide springs 55 which engage the flattened surfaces of the counter wheels to hold these wheels in adjusted position. These springs prevent the free rotation of the counter wheels when they are not in positive engagement with the gear segments 5| and 53.

In order to reset the counter to a zero position after a counting operation, I provide a notch 55 in the shaft 4!, which is provided with a shoulder 52 at one side thereof and gradually tapers to the diameter of the shaft in the other direction. Each counter wheel is provided with an aperture 5! therein which contains a light spring 59. This spring 59 acts as a ratchet dog when engaged in the notch 56. The counter wheels usually rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 9. When rotating in this d rection the ratchet dog 59 has no eflect whatsoever and can not hinder operation of the counter wheels. However, if the shaft 4| is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 9, the spring'59 will engage in.the notch 55 and will cause rotation of the counter wheels with the shaft. Accordingly by merely rotating the shaft 4| through one complete revolution, all of the counter wheels may be returned to a zero position. A suitable knob 69 is provided on the end of the shaft 4| vertically of the pencil for rotating the shaft 4| and for returning the counter wheels to a zero reading.

In operation the pencil is held in a substan-v tially vertical position while counting words of a' telegram or the like and a, downward pressure is exerted upon the pencil while the lead 31 is adjacent each word or symbol to be counted in the message. This downward pressure compresses the spring 25 and slides the entire tubular element I4 toward the counting mechanism, this element I4 sliding on its reduced diameter portion l5 and on its bearing portion IT. This movement causes the ratchet dog or pawl 2| to engage the ratchet gear 46 to rotate this gear one-tenth of one revolution. If the gear is secured for rotation with the counter wheel 44.

this action will turn the counter Wheel one-tenth of one revolution and the counter will then change through one figure, such as from zero to one. As the tenth of these operations take place the gear segment will engage the pinion 50 to rotate the gear 52 one-tenth of one revolution which will then turn the counter wheel 43 one-tenth of a revolution from zero to one, thus indicating the numeral on the counter wheels 43 and 44. When the operation in this manner has proceeded until 99 is registered upon the counter wheels 43 and. 44, the gear segment 53 will act through the pinion 49 to rotate the gear 54 and the attached counter wheel 42 one-tenth of one revolution so as to indicate 100.

Any transfer operation which might occur during zeroizing, or zero resetting, will advance the counter wheel to which a transfer degree, or step, of rotation is imparted, one step ahead of the notch 56, of shaft M, for said counter wheel to which such a degree of rotation is imparted, and said wheel will subsequently be picked up by rotation of the shaft 41 through the appropriate notch 56 and spring, or ratchet dog, 59 and reset to zero. Thus, a transfer operation executed during Zeroizing is lost and rendered ineffective in a zeroiz-ing operation.

The limit of degree of inward sliding movement of the tubular elements I4 is established by engagement of the tip 32 with the end I l of the barrel Ill. The ratchet dog 2| normally engages one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 46 and is normally inclined out of dead center relation to said wheel and the pivot 2 I of said dog so that under inward sliding of the tubular element H to its limit of movement in that direction, said dog being thrust against said ratchet wheel 46, is caused to swing laterally on said pivot 2| to impart a step of movement to the counter wheel 46 corresponding in degree to the spacing of the number symbols on said Wheel.

It will be noted that if the pencil is used in a normal writing position much of the downward pressure against the lead will be removed so that the spring 25 will not be compressed during the writing action. Should there be a tendency for the operator to operate the counter during the writing operation, it is possible to slip the finger between the pointed tip 32 and the tapered barrel end ll so as to prevent the movement of these parts together.

It will be noted that the lead 31 will leave a small mark adjacent each counted word in the message and will therefore provide a visible indication of what words or symbols have been counted. As a result if the operator is interrupted the counting may be resumed at the point where the counting left off.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my counting device, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

Mechanism for operating a counter wheel in the barrel of a lead pencil of the type embodying a tubular axial element endwise movable inwardly of said barrel under pressure of the lead against a work sheet, said mechanism comprising a wheel-supporting shaft, means to mount said shaft in said barrel parallel with said element and axially offset to one side of the axis of the element, and operating connections between one end of said element and said wheel comprising ratchet teeth on one side of the wheel, and a pawl at said end of the element pivoted on said end on the opposite side of the axis of the element for end thrust against said teeth and lateral swinging under endwise movement of the element about an axis at a right angle to the axis of said wheel.

MIRIAM A. DU LUDE. 

